World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Robert L. Besser
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Cleveland, Pawnee County, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT BUCKLEY FIELD AT AURORA, COLORADO; WASHINGTON STATE COLLEGE AT PULLMAN, WASHINGTON; LAS VEGAS ARMY AIR FIELD, NEVADA; AND TUCSON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, ARIZONA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN MISSIONS OVER ITALY, AUSTRIA, GERMANY, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, ROMANIA, YUGOSLAVIA, AND ALBANIA. AWARDED SILVER AIRCREW MEMBER WINGS, AIR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.